CicLAvia pedals its way back onto the Westside with a 6-mile route between Culver City and Venice. The last time the bike-friendly fest made its way to the beach, it started all the way over in Downtown LA. You'll find a much more manageable route this time around, and though a decent chunk is residential, there's still plenty to see and do in historic Downtown Culver City, through easygoing Mar Vista, near posh Abbot Kinney and along eclectic Venice Beach.

Built in 1931 and operated as a bakery (naturally) for over four decades, the cherished historic landmark has since been repurposed as a group of restaurants, shops and public spaces for locals to enjoy.

This century-old, former streetcar substation is now home to the Actors' Gang's 99-seat theater. Tim Robbins, who co-founded the company in 1981, remains in charge of its hard-edged material. Stop by during CicLAvia for a free, kid-friendly staging of a Harry Potter-themed Hamlet.

Don't be fooled by the name: this is not some kind of Spielbergian dinosaurland. Fact is mixed with the fantastical through the elaborate and beautiful treatment accorded to everything from the history of trailer parks to 17th-century Renaissance man Athanasius Kircher. Which exhibits, if any, are bona fide? Which, if any, are satirical? And, most crucially of all, does it matter?

This historic hotel played part-time residence to Old Hollywood stars like Clark Gable and Buster Keaton. Charlie Chaplin supposedly sold the hotel to John Wayne for a buck, while tales of apparitions surround the Neo-Renaissance–designed hotel; locals and tourists alike can drop in for a nightcap at the hotel's lobby bar.

Formerly the Culver Theatre—its original neon sign still lights up—this Streamline Moderne movie palace is now the Westside home of the Center Theatre Group's most adventurous, intimate stage productions. Stop in for an open house during CicLAvia.

Though its footprint is much smaller than its days as the iconic MGM Studios, you can still tour the Sony lot's soundstages and Art Deco facades during weekday walking tours. It won't be open for tours during CicLAvia, but you'll still be able to spot the studio's 94-foot-tall rainbow, an homage to the filming of The Wizard of Oz.

Mar Vista Farmers' Market Hub

These supermarket shelves are stocked with enough pork, panko and Pocky for shoppers to stage their own Japanese blowouts. Be sure to check out the food court, too, which is wedged between an anime toy store and the grocery store's own cash registers.

Before Venice became part of Los Angeles, this was its city hall. Now, it's home to poetry readings, storytelling shows and offbeat events like typewriter workshops thanks to creative haven Beyond Baroque.

Love it or hate it, this swanky street is certainly Venice's most stylish 'hood. Within a few blocks of the CicLAvia route you'll find casual hangouts like Intelligentsia alongside upscale favorites like Gjelina and the Tasting Kitchen—all great spots for people watching. And since this is a bike-friendly event, make sure to stop into the Linus and Timbuk2 shops.

Venice Hub

People-watching is the raison d'être at Venice Beach, which effectively continues from the southern end of Santa Monica Beach without a break. Jump into the flow of the winding Venice Boardwalk, where you can skate or cycle, watch or play volleyball or basketball, and check out the pumped-up gym obsessives who work out at Muscle Beach. For a completely different side of Venice, take a stroll through the idyllic Venice Canals (centered around Venice Boulevard and Dell Avenue).

This Culver City café is a haven for coffee tea, and cocoa lovers. Ask any one of their friendly staff members to help you decide which of their hundreds of teas to order, and you'll get an education that isn't intimidating or brusque.

The light, flaky pastries at this bakery taste like the've come straight from Denmark—or at least straight out of the oven. The kringle, filled with almond paste and custard, is a must-try, though you really can't go wrong with anything here.

Housed behind Fin, you'll need to walk through an "Employees Only" sign to enter this "secret" bar. Once you’re through the door, an ornate painting of a peacock lets you know you’ve either arrived at the right place or stumbled into the most lavish break room imaginable.

A cozy culinary and libation retreat, this spot feels like a neighborhood place where everybody knows your name. Exposed red brick meets dark wood paneling under Edison-approved lighting, along with drinks and bites that are reliable and flavorful.

Roy Choi has revamped his popular restaurant into a Hawaiian-centric eatery, now sporting poke and baby octopus and macaroni salad. Cocktails, too, have a tropical flair, with names like Hibiscus Habit, Lei Me Down and Zombie Isle—umbrellas included, of course.

There's little distinction between indoor and outdoor seating here; a glass-paneled bakery lines one wall and a beautiful coffee bar sits in the corner. The menu is pleasantly straightforward and the bread is excellent.

Menotti's Coffee Stop—emphasis on the "stop"—feels like a friendly refuge from the neighboring Venice Boardwalk. The interior is welcoming but spartan, with most of the attention focused on the bean selection and, behind it, a stack of vinyl and a taxidermy armadillo.

The Del Monte Speakeasy, Townhouse's basement bar, has been a hidden hideout since 1915. Today, the hooch is done, replaced instead with fancy-pants handcrafted cocktails, as well as live entertainment including local bands, comedy, jazz and vaudeville acts.